OCCUPY UMD
General Assembly notes from October 18th at 430 at the sun dial on the Mall,
Agenda Topics
Discussion of campus specific goals
Beginning the Occupation
• choose and date and time
Outreach
• covering campus with flier about OUMD
• outreach to student groups, staff, professors, media
Next GA times
We reached consensus on...
Beginning the Occupation
• The occupation will begin Oct. 28!
• There will be a march at 5pm, General Assembly at 6pm to be followed by our first night of occupation.
• This is the beginning of a 24-7 occupation of the mall at the sundial
• There will daily actions and GA's everyday from here on out (specifics to be determined)
• The Action Committee will begin outreach tasks for this (see below for more info)
Creating an Action Committee (more info below)
Changing our Facebook Group into a FB Page to facilitate coming growth
• You can join that here
facebook.com/OccupyUMD
Action Committee - tasks
• create a flier to post over campus to advertise the upcoming occupation
• distribute this flier to all those already involved to help post everywhere on campus
• begin planning the first march on oct.28th
• if you are interested in this committee or more information you can join the
google group
Other Committed and Action
Mohsen will...
• contact Community Roots, Black Student Union, African Student Union, Students for Liberty, and Youth for Ron Paul about coming out to OUMD
• contact Maria from the
Diamondback, the
Eclipse, and the
Washington Post about covering OUMD
• help create a press release about the beginning of the occupation
Angie will...
• contact Triota, the Womens’ Studies Honor Society, and The NAACP about coming out to OUMD
• contact Amer. Studies professor about participating in the Teach-In
Tyler will...
• contact Terpoets, the Love Movement, and Buhdism Club about coming out to OUMD
• contact CP Radio and Writers’ Block about covering OUMD
• help create a press release about the beginning of the occupation
Dennis will...
• contact the National Labor Guild about coming out to do legal observing for OUMD
• contact campus legal about the legality of occupying the mall and sleeping there
• contact Feminism without Borders and Justice at Maryland about coming out to OUMD
Emily will...
• contact Coop Housing Universtiy of Marlyand, and the Agricultural Frat about coming out to OUMD
• contact WJZ news about covering OUMD
Todd will...
• contact Students for Sensible Drug Policy about coming out to OUMD
• contact some CP Radio about covering OUMD
John will...
• contact the Jewish newspaper on campus
Jordan will...
• contact CollegeDems about coming out to OUMD
Juan will...
• contact Socy professors about participating in the Teach-In
Alex will...
• contact Poli-Psy professors about participating in the Teach-In
Aaron will...
• contact professor Pease about participating in the Teach-In
• contact campus legal about the legality of occupying the mall and sleeping there
The Next General Assemblies
• Monday Oct. at 4:30 at the sundial on the mall
• Wednesday Oct. at 6pm at the sundial on the mall
and
• Friday Oct. 28 at 6 pm at the sundial on the mall (first day of the occupation, BE THERE!)
Legal Update
Campus legal aid was sympathetic but unable to answer questions without specific charges. The resident attorney was helpful but does not know the specific regulations on demonstrations on campus. They suggested we ask police about permitting requirements, he thinks we would technically need one but did say that back when he was a college student they didn't apply for permits they just did it anyway knowing they might get arrested.
They also informed us that we have no legal right to disrupt normal functioning of the university, ie blocking of sidewalks or building entrances, or disrupting classes, and to keep this in mind when planning the occupation. The good news is they also informed us none of this would be in obvious violation of the student code of conduct unless the police tell us something is illegal.
Myself(dennis) and Aaron discussed taking a field trip to the campus police station, to ask them about some of these legal issues. We may go to that office on this friday if anyone is interested in going as well.
Thanks for reading the Notes!!!! You’re the best!
(and thanks to Dennis for taking the notes, typing them, and making them public! he's the best too!)